The Vertebral Column Flashcards
A series of bones which are held together to give support to the spinal cord and arising nerves
vertebral column
how many total vertebrae
33
how many movable vertebrae
24
how many cervical vertibrae
7
how many thoracic vertebrae
12
how many lumbar vertebrae
5
how many vertebrae are fused in the sacrum
5
how many vertebrae are fused in the coccyx
4
how are vertebrae numbered
top to bottom
what are intervertebral disks
fibrocartilagenous discs between the vertebrae
what is the function of intervertebral disks
weight bearing
how are IVDs named
named for the 2 vertebrae it sits between
where on the vertebral column is there no IVD
between C1 and C2
what is the annulus fibrosis
a fibrous outer layer to IVDs
what is the nucleus pulposus
the inner substance of IVDs
what is the innervation of IVDs
aneural except the peripheral third
what is the blood supply of IVDs
avascular
spinal curve that curves anteriorly
lordosis
spinal curve that curves posteriorly
kyphosis
which spinal curves are lordotic
cervical and lumbar
which spinal curves are kyphotic
thoracic and sacral
large, heavy, anterior part of the vertebra
body
what happens to vertebral bodies as they progress inferiorly
they get larger
part of the vertable that encloses the vertebral foramen
vertebral arch
what are pedicles
2 posterior projections on the vertebrae that form the anterior aspect of the vertebral arch
what are laminae
2 structures of the vertebrae that meet the pedicles
what are spinous processes
a posterior projection of the vertebrae formed from the connection of the laminae
what are articular processes
four processes that arise from the vertebral arch
how are the articular processes arranged
superior and inferior on the right and left
what vertebrae constitute the upper cervical spine
c1 and c2
what vertebrae constitute the lower cervical spine
c3 to c7
which vertebrae are atypical
c1 and c2
aka for c1
atlas
what vertebra is designed to support the occipital region of the skull
c1
the transverse foramen of c1 allows passage of what structure
vertebral artery
ligament that connects the 2 lateral masses of c1 and divides the vertebral foramen for passage of the spinal cord
transverse ligament of the atlas
what vertebra has no spinous process
c1
aka for c2
axis
aka for the dens of the axis
odontoid process
which spinous processes are bifid
c2-c6
two structures of the spine that consist of fused vertebrae
sacrum and coccyx
which spinal curves are termed primary, due to their development during the fetal stage?
thoracic and sacral (kyphotic)
which spinal curves are termed secondary, due to their development as we start walking and lifting our heads?
cervical and lumbar (lordotic)
what is the innervation of intervertebral discs?
aneural, except for the outer (peripheral) third
what is the blood supply of intervertebral discs?
avascular
what are articular facets
facets of vertebrae that articulate with the superior of the next lower vertebra
the spinal cord passes through what structure
the vertebral foramen
the pedicles and laminae form what structure
vertebral arch
what are the articular joints
joints between superior and inferior articular facets
aka for articular joints
zygapophysial joints
what is the pars interarticularis
the area between the superior and inferior articular processes
what is the transverse process
vertebral structure that arises from the vertebral arch. project laterally
what is the intervertebral foramen
an almost complete ring created by superior/inferior vertebra notches of 2 adjacent vertebrae
the most common site for fractures in the spinal column
pars interarticularis (laminae)
the intervertebral foramen allows passage of what structure?
spinal nerves/nerve roots
what are uncinate processes
upward bony projections on the peosterolateral rims of the cervical vertebral bodies
what projections on the vertebrae articulate with the next superior vertebra
uncinate processes
what is the name of joints made with uncinate processes
uncovertebral joints/joints of lushka
purpose of uncovertebral joints
provide stability in the cervical spine
the spinal nerve sits in a groove on what vertebra
c4
what is the purpose of joints of lushka
provide stability in the cervical spine
what is the carotid tuberclue
name for the anterior tubercle on c6
what is the largest vertebra in the spine
l5
what is the lumbosacral articular surface
the articulation between l5 and the sacrum
what are ala/alae
the “wings” of the sacrum
the fused remnants of the TVPs of the sacrum create what structure
lateral sacral crest
joint, articulates L5 with S1
lumbosacral joint
what does the iliolumbar ligament connect
TVPs of L4 and L5 to posterior iliac crest
ligament that’s a key stabilizer of L5, and limits lateral joint flexion
iliolumbar ligament
joint. apex of the sacrum articulates with the base of the coccyx
sacrococcygeal joint
joints. auricular surface of the sacrum articulates with the auricular surface of the ilium
sacroiliac joints
SacroIliac joints are what kind of joint?
synovial
what kind of movements are available to the SI joints?
limited gliding and rotation
ligaments that attach the ilium to the sacrum
anterior/posterior sacroiliac ligaments
ligaments that lie just anterior to the posterior sacroiliac ligaments
interosseous sacroiliac ligaments
what are the accessory ligaments to the SI joints
sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments ligaments
what vertebrae have only one facet surface on each side
T10-T12
what are the characteristics of cervical vertebrae
uncinate processes, bifid SPs, transverse foramen, and oblique facet orientation
what are the characteristics of thoracic vertebrae
2 costal demi-facets on the body, costal facets on the TVPs, SPs pointing down, and frontal/coronal facet orientation
what are the characteristic of lumbar vertebrae
large bodies, large SPs projecting horizontally, and saggital facet orientation
vertebrae connected to rotation
cervical
vertebrae connected to lateral flexion
thoracic
vertebrae connected to flexion/extension
lumbar
what are intervertebral joints
joints in the spine designed for strength and weight-bearing
what kind of joints are intervertebral joints
cartilaginous
adjacent vertebrae of intervertebral joints are connected by what?
intervertebral disks
what joints in the spine have no intervertebral disks?
craniovertebral joints
what is the atlanto-occipital joint
joint of the spine. superior articular facets on the lateral masses of C1 articulate with the occiputal condyles of the skull
what kind of joint is the atlanio-occipital joint
synovial condyloid
available movements of the atlanto-occipital joint
flexion/extension of the head on the neck
what kind of joint is the atlanto-axial joint
synovial pivot
what rotates the atlanto-axial joint
c1
available movements of the atlanto-axial joint
rotation
what is the function of the transverse ligament of the atlas
holds the dens of C2 against the anterior arch of C1
ligament. bands travel from transverse ligament superiorly to the occipital bone and inferiorly to the body of C2
cruciate/cruciform ligament
ligaments that travel from the dens to the lateral margins of foramen magnum
alar ligaments
what is the foramen magnum
hole at the base of the skull
what is the apical ligament
ligament that runs from the dens to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum
what is the posterior longitudinal ligament
travels/is anchored to the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks from the sacrum to C2
functions of posterior longitudinal ligament
checks hyperflexion of the spine and prevents posterior protrusion of the intervertebral disk
most superior part of the posterior longitudinal ligament
tectorial membrane
where does the tectorial membrane attach?
the occiput
